Scribblenauts Showdown brings another entry in the imaginative puzzle solving game but this time weve got a party-themed twist. Read the latest game reviews over at Kidzworld!
By: Max Cannon
If you had got yourself hooked on the earlier entries in the Scribblenauts series, which has been on hiatus since 2013's Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, then Scribblenauts Showdown may be enough to tide you over even the sandbox is heavily stripped down from what you could expect in earlier games. The emphasis on party games here is a new direction that makes Scribblenauts more social than ever and the series is better off for having made the pivot.
A traditional Scribblenauts sandbox gives you a chance to let your creativity run wild.Courtesy of Warner Bros
Putting Your Heads Together
The basic Scribblenauts gameplay is based around solving puzzles by writing down solutions and making helpful objects appear. So an earlier game in the series may present players with a dangerous fire, a possible solution could be achieved by typing in "rain cloud" or "firefighter" or some sort of option to put out the flames. And while Scribblenauts Showdown offers a solo sandbox to please veteran players, this game has more of a party game slant similar to the recently reviewed game Frantics. (If you haven't noticed, party games are making a big comeback as of late.)
Official Scribblenauts Showdown Announce Trailer
Aside from playing in the game's sandbox, you're going to be spending a chunk of your time in mini-games. The mini-games are easy to understand and definitely a lot of fun but they don't always make great use of the strengths of the Scribblenauts series. For example, the competitive Angry Birds-like game Tower Topple is simple and fun to play but the Scribblenauts -spin comes from writing/creating your projectiles before the round begins. The back-and-forth of knocking down your opponent's tower is a ton of fun but the projectile of your choice doesn't seem to impact the game almost at all, aside from the possible absurdity of what you're launching. Some games make better use of the series' imaginative game mechanic but there are too many missed opportunities here to ignore.
Tower Topple is a fun competitive game despite not taking advantage of the main Scribblenauts game mechanic.Courtesy of Warner Bros
The Multiplayer Modes
The two main modes of the game are Versus and Showdown, each focus on winning a greater game through successful wins in mini-games similarly to how you'd play a round of Mario Party. Regardless of which game mode you choose, you've got the option to play with a computer or friends -- but most party games are best enjoyed with friends and Scribblenauts Showdown is no different. The problem here is the same as it is with the mini-games themselves, this doesn't feel like an effective use of what made Scribblenauts so beloved.
The gameboard for the Showdown mode.Courtesy of Warner Bros
Final Thoughts
Like past entries, there is an insane amount of potential things to create, it's rare that an idea that pops into your head hasn't been thought of by the developers already so it's so surprising that the game doesn't focus on the things that made Scribblenauts such a big deal in the earlier years. The party games are a lot of fun but I had the best time when I stepped into the sandbox, and I'm sure most players of the other Scribblenauts games will feel the same.
Pros
- More Scribblenauts
- Fun Mini-Games
- Awesome Sandbox
Cons
- Doesn't Give Enough Opportunity for Creativity
- Low Content for the Price
Scribblenauts Showdown Game Rating:
Scribblenauts Showdown PS4 Box ArtCourtesy of Warner Bros
Available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, & PC
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